Job Summary
We are seeking a motivated and strategic Head of IT to lead our technology function. This is a unique growth-oriented role for a candidate with strong foundational IT management skills who is now ready to step into a Head of Department position. You will be responsible for the stability, security, and evolution of our IT infrastructure, with a direct reporting line to the CEO.
This role is ideal for a hands-on leader who is not only adept at managing daily operations but is also eager to develop their strategic, budgetary, and transformational leadership skills with the mentorship of senior management. You will have the autonomy to shape the IT function and the runway to grow with the company.
Key Responsibilities
1. IT Leadership & Team Management:
- Define the enterprise architecture and technology standards for the organization.
- Foster a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, and high-quality service delivery.
- Lead, mentor, and develop the IT team, including roles such as Network Support, Programmers, and IT Support Engineers.
- Manage team performance, conduct reviews, and facilitate professional development.
2. Infrastructure & Operations Management:
- Oversee the reliability, security, performance and maintenance of all IT systems, including servers, networks (LAN, WAN, Cloud), storage, and hardware.
- Oversee daily IT operations, service desk support, and proactive system monitoring to minimize downtime.
- Maintain robust cybersecurity practices, data protection, and compliance with corporate and regulatory standards.
- Implement and management Disaster Recovery (DR) and Business Continuity (BC) plans.
3. Strategic Planning & Project Execution:
- Collaborate with the CEO and department heads to understand business needs and align technology initiatives.
- Develop and execute a practical IT roadmap, managing projects for system upgrades, deployments, and improvements.
- Identify and drive opportunities for process automation and digital enhancement to improve efficiency.
- Foster a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, and technical excellence.
4. Vendor & Budget Management:
- Manage relationships with external vendors, service providers, and contractors.
- Assist in the development and management of the IT budget, controlling costs while ensuring value and cost-effective spending.
- Participate in vendor contract negotiations and oversee service level agreements (SLAs).
- Manage external security audits and lead incident response plans.
5. Authority
- Make operational decisions for IT infrastructure, systems, and service delivery.
- Supervise, evaluate, and develop IT team members.
- Approve system changes and deployments within established security and compliance guidelines.
- Authorize procurement of IT equipment and services within approved budget limits.
- Select and manage external vendors and service providers.
- Represent the IT department in management meetings and strategic planning sessions.
6. Qualifications & Experience
Essential:
- Bachelor's degree in information technology, Computer Science, or a related field.
- 10+ years of progressive experience in IT, with at least 3 years in a team leadership or management role overseeing infrastructure and operations.
- Strong hands-on technical knowledge in networking, system administration, and cybersecurity.
- Demonstrated experience in vendor management, budgeting, and project management.
- Strong communication, change management, and stakeholder engagement skills..
- A proactive, problem-solving mindset with a strong desire to learn and grow into a senior leadership role.
7. Significant Advantage:
- Professional certifications such as ITIL Foundation, PMP, Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate, or CCNA.
- Experience in the hospitality, real estate, or accommodation sector. Strong communication, change management, and stakeholder engagement skills.
8. The Ideal Candidate Will Be:
- Aspiring & Ambitious: ready to move into a Head of Department role and seeking a platform to prove themselves.
- Strategic Thinking: ability to see the big picture, forecast future technology trends, and align IT decisions with long-term business goals
- Pragmatic & Hands-On: not afraid to dive into technical details while keeping the bigger picture in mind.
- Leadership and Mentoring: proven ability to build, motivate and manage diverse technical teams, providing clear direction and fostering professional growth
- An Influencer: Able to build relationships, manage stakeholders, and champion IT's value in a business context.
- Resilient & Adaptive: Thrives in an environment where they can build and improve, seeing challenges as opportunities.
- Change Management: Ability to effectively plan and execute the roll-out of new systems, processes, and cultural shifts within the organization
- Agile & High-performing: Proven ability to work effectively under pressure and to tight deadlines while maintaining a high degree of accuracy and professionalism.
